The National tribune., 1887-06-23
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
tiOnal Capital.


The old e. s. S. POwha;an, after battling
with the winds and waves of pretty nearly the
lavigable globe. during life extending over
period of nearly 40 years. having been COM
menoed at GOsport, Va, in lo47, IS at last IN a
fair way 10 rest from her wanderings, having
Joined the fleet of lame ducks in whitney
Basin" az the New York Navy Yard. The
designer of the powerful machinery of this
ouandam Pride of the Navy was the Vener-
able engineer, Charles H. haswell, well known
throughout the country for his ability as an
engineer as also through the widely distributed
Pocket Book Of scientific data which the
Harpefs have put mp 20 daintlly through ITS
numerous editions Omitting the venerable
Michigan our only cruiser the lakes, the
Powhatan is The last link connecting the old
regime with the new aud comparison Of the
powhatan with the Atlanta conveys a most
graphic commentary on the progress we have
made and are making in the matter of naval
construction aud architecture. The Powhatan
was a sister ship 10 otbaSusquchanna, long since
broken up. whose engines were designed by
that famous engineer Charles w. Copeland.
VACANCIES FOR WEST POINT GRADUATES.
The retirement of three Captains Of the line
OF the Army brings the number of Second Lieu
tenanCes for the graduates Of the Military
Academy upto so. With this number Of vacan-
ces, "a of the graduates will be appointed as
additional Lieutenauts. IL is possible that the
star graduates may be appointed as additionals
To the Engineer Corps. This is one Of the
questions Secretary Endicott viii have 10 dis
pose of on his rctum TO the city The assign
ments are not 10 be made up for some time,
but as the Cadets receive pay from date of
graduation the delay in giving them commits
sions will result in no other inconvenience than
preventing some of them from taking q con-
templated European trip this Summer.
NAVAL ACADEMY VACANCIES.
FTNr - =. n
tTicts having nO representation az the Naval
Academy. The Congrossmen from those Dis
triots have until the lst of Jny TO nominate
candidates TO Gil the vacancies TO which their
constituents are entitled, and if they fail 10 do
so within that time, by operation of law they
lose the powcr 20 nominate, and the Secretary
OF the Navy can then name any persons he
may see 6t as candidates to be accredited 10
such Districts If they pass the examination for
admission. Secretary Whitney has been very
reluctant 10 avail himself Of this privilege
granted by law. BY filling such vacancies an
enemy is frequently made of the Congressman
deprived of the right TO nominate. Last year
Secretary Whitney nominated three young
men TO represent Districts which had been neg
lected by their Representatives in Congress.
The action occasioned much trouble, and he is
extremely anxious that the full number of
nominations should be made this year without
any interference on his part The Congress
men who are alive to the danger of losing a
chance to favor some constituent by delaying
TO make a nomination, send ia a name as soon
as they are notified by the Navy Department
that their Districts are uurepresented. Many
Congressman are so situated that they cannot
make nomination within the prescribed time.
A favOrite candidate for the nomination is not
quite old enough 10 enter the Academy, or re-
quires another year 90 iit himself for the ex-
animation for admission. In order TO keep the
vacancy open and prevent the Secretary of the
Navy from disposing Of il, the Congressman
whose cand idates are barred for the present by
one Of the reasons given nominate some ficti-
tious person, with a request that they be not
ordered TO examination. Others near the close
of the time to nominate write a letter TO the
Department claiming that they have not re-
ceived notice from the Secretary that they had
avacancy at the Academy, and had just learned
the fact from an outside source, when il was,